Toddler found alive in mountains after 3 days on own

22-month-old discovered crying near strip mine

(NBC News) A 22-month-old boy was found near a strip mine not far from his Kentucky home on Wednesday, about three days after he was declared missing.

Kenneth Neil Howard was found crying on a cliff area in Prestonburg by the county's search and rescue team, authorities said during a Thursday press conference. Kenneth's parents told Captain Carter Conley of the Magoffin County Rescue Squad that the boy, who was airlifted to an area hospital, is doing well.

"Unfortunately, neither one could ride in the helicopter due to space, but they were looking at him, talking to him, and he was just eyes wide, what I’d say with a grin, just taking it all in," Conley said. "You would think a 22 month old would be scared, this little gentleman was cool, calm, collected."